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Monday, September 17, 2007

BWM SNARES UK DIGITAL GURU

BWM Sydney has enticed leading European digital specialist Simon Smith to move to Australia and join as its Director of Digital Communications. Smith (pictured second from right with BWM partners Jamie Mackay, Rob Belgiovane and Paul Williams) is a multi award-winning European digital titan, who has been at the forefront of the digital industry for the past 12 years across entertainment categories including gaming and music as well as media and advertising. He is widely acknowledged as leading the creative and strategic development of Digital Interactive Television (DiTV). The newly created position continues to be evidence of BWM’s dedication to challenge the industry norm. Smith describes the role as the ‘digital gene’ integrating digital capabilities into the heart of the agency and is quick to point out this should not be confused with normal digital silo of banners and web sites. Paul Williams, CEO of BWM said: “The UK digital market is more mature than Australia’s, not just in terms of availability and take-up of technology but more importantly in the way digital technology is transforming the way that brands behave and communicate. Simon will add his first-hand experience of that market into BWM’s planning and creative departments. “We are thrilled to announce the arrival of Simon, who will bring his futuristic thinking and experience to our business and to our clients’ business. Simon will infuse digital thinking through our whole business.” Smith was most recently the Founder and Creative Partner of Weapon 7, a digital agency purpose-built to develop DiTV. Since its inception in 2001, Weapon 7 set the benchmark for creative and engaging use of digital communication, for clients including adidas, Coca-Cola, Nokia, Daimler Chrysler, Nissan, Xbox, EA and UIP, EMI stars Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue. Weapon 7 has the honour of introducing the DiTV category into the D&AD awards, and has been instrumental in developing an evaluation model for Digital Communication in conjunction with Hall & Partners. Weapon 7 was sold to Omnicom at the end of 2006. Williams said: “Simon’s entrepreneurial approach and years of experience not only in digital but also across content, entertainment and advertising will emphasise the digi-centric thinking in our business and in our clients’ business.” Smith said: “BWM currently has a perfect mix of three elements that make a world-class agency. Great clients, an independent pioneering culture and an inbuilt quality for delivering loved, beautiful and award winning campaigns. These conditions don’t come together very often. This really is going to be fun.”